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Donald Trump said the United States is beginning demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz, while media reports indicate that US Navy ships have already passed through the area.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump again criticized what he called “fake news,” claiming that Iran is not winning the conflict but “losing badly.” He asserted that Iran’s navy and air force have been destroyed, along with much of its air defenses, radar systems, and missile and drone production capabilities.
According to Trump, the main remaining threat in the strait is naval mines, though he claimed Iran’s mine-clearing fleet has already been eliminated. He added that the US is launching demining efforts as a service to global shipping, including for countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany.
Meanwhile, Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported, citing a source, that several US Navy vessels crossed the strait without coordination with Iran — marking the first such passage since the start of the conflict. The ships reportedly moved from east to west into the Persian Gulf and then returned, in what a US official described as an operation to ensure freedom of navigation in international waters.
Earlier, Trump had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran in exchange for reopening the waterway, though reports suggest the Strait of Hormuz was briefly reopened before being closed again amid renewed regional tensions.
